vikides

Vikides is a fictional ethnic group and cultural tradition widely described in speculative fiction and tabletop role-playing contexts. The term does not refer to a real-world population; it exists only within invented worlds where writers and game designers explore maritime societies.

In many versions, the Vikides are coastal dwellers who live on a chain of islands connected by ferries and canoe routes. They typically organize into kin-based clans led by elder councils or chieftains. Maritime mobility and seamanship are central to their economy and identity, with fishing, trading, and shipbuilding forming core crafts. Social norms emphasize hospitality, reciprocity, and oral storytelling, including genealogies and seafaring folklore.

The Vikides language in these depictions is usually described as agglutinative or polysynthetic, with a rich system of terms for tides, winds, and navigation. Some writers append a script or syllabary used exclusively for ceremonial or maritime records, while others present no writing system at all, relying on oral transmission.

In worldbuilding practice, the Vikides serve as a flexible template for exploring themes such as intercultural contact, adaptation to changing environments, and the ethics of exploration. Because the concept is fictional, details vary by author and game system, and there is no canonical Vikides across all works.